554 SYSTEMATIC BOTANY. 



leaves, and small deciduous stipules. Flowers large and showy. 

 Calyx superior. Petals 6, imbricated, distinct, or sometimes 

 united at the base. Stamens numerous, epigynous; some of 

 them cohere and form a unilateral petaloid hooded body. 

 Ovary inferior, 2 to 6-celled; placentas axile. Fruit woody, 

 either indehiscent, or opening in a circumscissile manner (^fig. 

 669). Seeds several, large, and without albumen. 



Distribution, 8fc. — Principally natives of Guiana and Brazil, 

 and also occasionally of other hot regions of South America. 

 Examples : — Lecythis, Bertholletia, Couroupita. There are 7 

 genera, and 38 species. 



Properties and Uses. — The plants of this order are chiefly 

 remarkable for their large woody fruits, the pericarps of which 

 are used as drinking-vessels, &c. Their seeds are frequently 

 edible. 



Lecythis ollaria — The fruits of this and other species, have been called 

 Monkey-pots on account of their peculiar shape. The seeds of L. ollaria are 

 large and eatable, and are termed Sapucaya-nuts. Some have been lately 

 imported. Other species have also edible seeds. The bark of some species 

 of Lecythis may be s^•p;^rated into thin papery layers, which are used by 

 the Indians as wrappers foi their cignrs. 



Bertholletia excelsa, the lirazil-Nut Tree, — The seeds of this plant con- 

 stitute the edible nuts, known as the Brazil, Juvia, Castanha, or Para Nuts. 

 As many as .50,000 bushels are annually imported into this country from 

 lirazil. 



Natural Order 108. CiiAMiELAuciACEiE. — The Fringe-Myrtle 

 Order. — Diagnosis. — This is a small order of shrubby plants 

 with evergreen dotted leaves, and nearly allied to Myrtacece, but 

 distinguished from them by their Heath- like aspect, their more 

 or less pappose calyx, and by their truly simple, 1-celled ovary. 

 From LecythidacecE they are at once known by their habit, their 

 dotted exstipulate leaves, and 1-celled ovary. 



Distribution, Sfc. — Exclusively natives of Australia. Ex- 

 amples : — Calytrix, Chamcelaucium, Darwinia. There are 15 

 genera, and 50 species. 



Properties and Uses. — Unkno^vn. 



Natural Order 109. Barringtoniace^. — The Barringtonia 

 Order. — Diagnosis. — This is a small order of plants usually 

 placed among the Myrtacece, but Lindley considers them as 

 quite distinct from that order in these particulars; namely, the 

 presence of a large quantity of albumen in their seeds, and in 

 having alternate, dotlcss, and often serrated leaves. Thomson 

 has recently proved tliat the seeds are exalbuminous, so that 

 the characters separating them from Myrtacea? arc very slight 

 indeed. Another character of distinction is, in the testivation of 

 the calyx in the two orders respectively; thus that of Myrtaccai 

 is valvate, that of Barringtoniacea; imbricated. 



Distrihution. Sfc. — Natives of tropical regions in all parts of 

 the woild. Edumples : — Barringtonia, Carcya, Gustavia. 



J'ropertics and Uses. — The bark of Stravadium raceinosum is 



